Is your roof green with moss or streaked with black algae? We provide roof cleaning and moss removal across Stockport and East Cheshire, lifting the growth off by hand and treating it with a biocide so it stays clear for years.
No steam, no jet washing, nothing that can damage your tiles. We wouldn't do it on the roofs we've fitted and still guarantee. So we won't do it on yours.
We clean roofs across Stockport and East Cheshire, from a light biocide treatment on a roof that is just starting to green up, to a full hand strip of thick moss followed by a long-life treatment. Because we are a roofing contractor and not just a cleaning firm, the same visit gives you a roofer's read on the tiles, ridge, valleys and flashings underneath, which is exactly where moss tends to hide a problem.
If a clean uncovers something that needs putting right, a slipped tile, a tired flashing or a worn valley, we will show you the photos and talk you through the options, with our roof repairs and lead services on hand if you need them. And if your gutters are part of the problem, we clear those at the same time.
See what we offer at a glanceThe trade is split on this, and plenty of firms will tell you every roof needs doing every year, because that is how they sell work. Here is the honest version. Whether your roof needs cleaning depends on what the moss is actually doing, and the right person to tell you is a roofer with nothing to gain from talking you into it. Still weighing it up? Read our honest guide on whether you should remove moss at all.
We would rather say this than not. On some roofs, moss is doing no harm: a sound, well-drained, sunny roof with light surface growth is often fine left alone, and on some period and stone properties people prefer the weathered look. The roofing trade body itself takes the view that moss usually only needs removing once it is blocking drainage or lifting tiles, not simply because it has gone green. What is never worth it is a cheap, aggressive clean that damages the roof, which is the real risk this trade is known for. If your moss is doing no harm, we will tell you, and we will not push a job you do not need.
From a light biocide treatment on a roof that is just starting to green up, to a full hand strip of thick moss, here is the work we carry out and how each part fits together.
Roof moss removal and biocide treatment across Stockport and East Cheshire. Fully insured, free assessment, no hard sell.
From £5 per m² See the full price guide
If your moss is cosmetic and not worth treating, we will tell you straight. No hard sell.
“Excellent service from start to finish. From initial quotation, the workmanship, to rectifying any minor issues quickly and efficiently, Dan and his team got the job done in a timely and professional manner. We would highly recommend using them.”
“Daniel and his team provided something which is incredibly difficult to find these days. Reliability, detailed costings, quality work and great communication. They deserve supporting.”
“Daniel and his team were excellent, made what could have been a stressful experience really good. Would recommend in terms of quality, cost and communication. Thank you.”
Two steps, no shortcuts, and two methods we deliberately refuse to use. Here is how it works and why.
We remove moss by hand, scraping it back carefully so it comes away without dragging tiles out of position or cracking them. It is slower than blasting it off, and far kinder to the roof. Done by a roofer who knows how the roof is built, and worked from the right access rather than by walking a covering that cannot take the weight.
Once the moss is off, a biocide treatment kills the spores left behind and stops regrowth. It is what makes the difference between a clean that lasts a season and one that lasts years, and it keeps working after we leave as rainfall carries it across the surface over the following weeks.
You will find firms that steam clean or jet wash a roof because it looks fast and dramatic. We do neither. High pressure can strip the protective surface off the tiles and force water up under the laps into the roof space, which is exactly why the NFRC, the roofing trade body, advises against pressure washing a roof. Steam is gentler, but the heat and moisture can damage the factory coating on concrete tiles and still drive water in. Hand removal and biocide reach the same result without any of that risk.
We keep our roof cleaning pricing simple and honest: we price by the square metre of roof. It is £5 per m² to scrape the moss off by hand, and £5 per m² for the biocide treatment that keeps it clear, so a full clean works out at £10 per m², with materials and skilled labour included. Our rates are shown before VAT. The only things charged separately are scaffold or tower hire on a steep or high roof, and bulk disposal where a job lifts a large amount of moss, and we will tell you up front if either applies.
| Service | Price per m² | How long it lasts | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand moss removal (scraping only) | £5 per m² | A season or two alone, so we always finish with a biocide | The careful hand-stripping half of a full clean, always paired with a biocide |
| Biocide treatment | £5 per m² | 2 to 5 years as part of a full clean | Killing the spores left behind so the clean lasts years, not months |
| Full clean (hand removal + biocide) | £10 per m² | 2 to 5 years | Any roof with visible moss you want properly clear and kept clear |
| Biocide-only maintenance (no scraping) | £5 per m² | 2 to 3 years | Light moss, occasional top-ups, and roofs we already clean |
A full clean at £10 per m² is simply the two component rates added together: £5 per m² to scrape the moss off by hand, plus £5 per m² for the biocide. Every rate includes materials and labour, and any scaffold, tower hire or bulk moss disposal is charged as a separate line only where a job needs it.
| Property type | Typical roof area | Full clean | Biocide-only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-terrace | 40 to 55 m² | £400 to £550 | £200 to £275 |
| 1930s semi | 50 to 70 m² | £500 to £700 | £250 to £350 |
| Bungalow / single-storey | 60 to 110 m² | £600 to £1,100 | £300 to £550 |
| Larger detached | 80 to 130 m² | £800 to £1,300 | £400 to £650 |
Worked out from our per-m² rates and the typical pitched roof areas we see across the Stockport area, the same property bands we use on our new roofs guide. Full clean figures are the roof area at £10 per m²; biocide-only figures are the same area at £5 per m², and exclude scaffold or bulk moss disposal where a job needs them. They are honest guide figures, not fixed quotes, so we confirm the exact price in writing after measuring your roof.
The surest way to know what your roof will cost is to let us measure it. We give you a free, no-obligation assessment and a written quote with the square metre rate and every line spelled out, so there are no surprises.
These are honest indicative guide figures for the Stockport area in 2026, worked out from our per-m² rates and the typical roof sizes we see, not fixed quotes. Roof size, pitch, the number of slopes, how much moss has built up and the access all move the figure, so we always confirm the exact price in writing after we have measured the roof, never a guess off a postcode.
No obligation. We measure the roof, give you the price per m² and every line in writing, with nothing added once work starts. Same or next-working-day visits across Stockport.
A straightforward, no-surprises process. The first step is always an honest look at whether your roof needs doing at all.
We inspect the roof, identify the covering and the type and extent of growth, and give you an honest recommendation plus a written quote. If a clean is not worth it, we say so.
We sheet plants and surfaces, protect and clear the gutters and downpipes so debris cannot block them, and set up safe access for your particular roof.
We scrape heavy growth back carefully, protecting the tiles, with no high-pressure jetting and no steam.
We treat the roof to kill the remaining spores and stop the moss and algae returning, which is what makes the result last. It carries on working over the weeks that follow.
We clear all debris, leave the gutters running clear, carry out a final roof check, and tell you about anything we found that needs attention.
A large proportion of the roofs we are asked to clean are roofs we installed ourselves, many still inside their workmanship guarantee. That shapes how we clean. We are not going to take a steam lance or a jet washer to a roof we are on the hook to guarantee, because those methods can damage the very tiles we stand behind, and at least one major tile maker says jet washing voids the guarantee outright. Hand removal and biocide protect the roof and the guarantee at the same time. And if we did not fit your roof, you get exactly the same care: we treat every roof as if our name is on it, because on a lot of them, it is.
See our roofing workOnly when it is done badly. Removing moss carefully by hand and treating the roof with a biocide does not harm sound tiles. The damage comes from high-pressure jet washing, which can strip the tile surface and force water up under the laps, and that is exactly why we never use it. As roofers, we also spot tiles that are already cracked or slipped under the moss before they turn into a leak, which a cleaning-only firm would simply wash over.
No, neither, and it is a deliberate choice. The NFRC, the roofing trade body, advises against pressure washing a roof because the high pressure can damage the tiles, strip their protective surface and force water inside. Steam is gentler, but the heat and moisture can damage the factory coating on concrete tiles and still drive water in. We remove moss by hand and treat it with a biocide, which gets the same result without touching the integrity of the roof. This matters all the more on the many roofs we clean that we fitted and still guarantee.
Not the way we do it. Hand removal and biocide are the manufacturer-approved approach and do not compromise the tiles, the laps or the detailing. Pressure washing is a different story: at least one major tile maker says jet washing voids the guarantee outright, and others warn it shortens the life of the tile. It is the reason we will not use steam or pressure washing on any roof, let alone one of ours.
With a biocide treatment, a clean typically stays clear for two to five years, and longer on a sunny, well-drained roof. Without biocide, moss and algae can return within a season or two, which is why we never leave it out. A north-facing roof under trees will always need treating more often than a south-facing one in the open, so we usually suggest a light re-treatment every two to three years.
Most roofs do not need a full clean every year. A proper clean with biocide, followed by the occasional biocide-only top-up, keeps the majority of roofs clear for years. We would rather tell you a light treatment will do than book you in for a full clean you do not need.
It depends on the roof, and we will give you an honest answer. Moss that is holding moisture against the tiles, blocking the gutters, or lifting tiles is worth removing. Moss that is purely cosmetic on an otherwise sound, well-drained roof is your call, and on some period properties people prefer the weathered look. The roofing trade body itself says moss usually only needs removing once it affects drainage or lifts tiles. What is never worth it is a cheap, aggressive clean that damages the roof.
A biocide is a treatment we apply after the moss is removed that kills the spores left on the surface and stops the moss, algae and lichen re-establishing, which is what makes a clean last for years rather than months. It is safe when applied correctly: we protect plants and ponds, keep it out of watercourses, and ask that pets are kept off the treated area until it has dried. We are happy to talk through exactly what we are using and to take extra care near a pond.
We price roof cleaning by the square metre, so the cost tracks the size of your roof. A full clean of hand moss removal plus biocide is £10 per m², made up of £5 per m² for the hand scraping and £5 per m² for the biocide, and a biocide-only treatment is £5 per m². Every rate includes materials and skilled labour. In practice that means a mid-terrace works out at around £400 to £550, a 1930s semi around £500 to £700, a bungalow around £600 to £1,100 and a larger detached roof around £800 to £1,300, before any scaffold or bulk moss disposal. Scaffold is only added on steep or high roofs that need it, and many bungalows need none. See our full price guide above for the rate card and the worked totals by property type. We give a written quote after measuring the roof, never a guess off a postcode.
Pressure or jet washing blasts the roof with high-pressure water, which can strip the tile surface and drive water inside. Soft washing uses low pressure and a cleaning solution instead, so it is far gentler. We go a step further again: we take the moss off by hand and then treat the roof with a biocide, which protects the tiles better than spraying a roof with any machine.
Those are algae, lichen and a build-up of atmospheric grime, not dirt that simply brushes off. The right fix is a gentle biocide treatment that kills them at the root and lets the rain carry them off over the following weeks, never a pressure washer, which only strips the tile.
It will remove the moss, algae, lichen and dark staining, and on most roofs the difference is dramatic. What it cannot do is re-colour tiles that have genuinely faded with age: cleaning lifts what has grown on the surface, it does not re-pigment the tile itself. We will be realistic at the assessment about how much of the difference is dirt and how much is age.
It depends on the roof. Many cleans are carried out from the right access without full scaffold, but steep, high or awkward roofs sometimes need a tower or cherry picker to work safely, and that is reflected in the quote. Whatever a job needs is priced in writing up front, with nothing added afterwards.
Spring and early autumn are ideal: the milder, drier weather gives the biocide the best start, and you avoid winter frost and slip. That said, we can remove moss at most times of year, and the biocide carries on working over the weeks after we have been, whatever the season.
Yes. We are a roofing contractor, so if we find slipped or cracked tiles, failed pointing or flashing that has pulled away, we can quote for the repair and carry it out with the same team. You are not left chasing a separate roofer to deal with what we found. For anything more involved, see our roof repairs page.
Stockport and East Cheshire, including Bramhall, Cheadle Hulme, Hazel Grove, Marple, Poynton and Wilmslow, plus the surrounding SK postcodes. If you are not sure whether we reach you, give us a call.
Yes. We clear and clean gutters, fascias and soffits, and we clean solar panels that are unsafe to reach from the ground. It often makes sense to have these done in the same visit as a roof clean, since the access is already set up.
We clean roofs across Stockport and the surrounding area. Every location below has its own dedicated page, so click through for local detail.
The town's older terraces and 1930s semis, where shaded, north-facing slopes and tree-lined streets mean moss and black algae build up fast. Hand moss removal and biocide treatment make up most of the work here, with biocide-only top-ups where a roof just needs keeping on top of.
Leafy avenues and mature gardens, exactly the conditions moss and lichen thrive in. Overhanging trees and damp, shaded elevations mean roofs in these areas green up quickly, and a regular biocide treatment is often the most cost-effective way to stay on top of it.
Stone-built and older properties on the wetter, greener eastern side of the borough, where moss is heaviest. These roofs often need careful hand removal followed by biocide, and a roofer's eye on the ridge and flashings while the growth is cleared.
Larger detached homes across the commuter belt, with bigger roof areas and a high standard expected on the finish. Hand removal and biocide are the usual approach, often alongside gutter and solar panel cleaning on the same visit.
Don't see your area listed? We almost certainly still cover it. Get in touch and we'll confirm.
Call, email, or fill in the form. We'll get back to you with a free written quote, usually the same day.
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Address
G6 Hallam Mill, Hallam Street,
Stockport,
SK2 6PT
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